UK minister John Whittingdale denies escort relationship affected job

Aug 13, London: UK’s Culture Secretary John Whittingdale has denied that a relationship with a woman who turned out to be an escort has affected decisions in his current post, local media reported.

Four newspapers learned about the relationship, which took place before he joined the cabinet, but decided not to publish the story.
Whittingdale said he ended it as soon as he found out in February 2014.

Labour said a "sword of Damocles" had been hanging over Whittingdale, who is responsible for press regulation, BBC reported.

Downing Street said Whittingdale "is a single man entitled to a private life" and had the full confidence of the prime minister.

Whittingdale said that between August 2013 and February 2014, he had a relationship with someone who he first met through Match.com.

He said, "She was a similar age and lived close to me. At no time did she give me any indication of her real occupation and I only discovered this
when I was made aware that someone was trying to sell a story about me to tabloid newspapers. As soon as I discovered, I ended the relationship.”

Four newspapers - the People, the Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Independent - had investigated the claims but had concluded the story was not in the public interest, Newsnight reported.